Tag: americas

  • Mexico launches $7.4bn Tren Maya railway venture

    A Mayan ceremony to launch the Tren Maya project in Palengue, Mexico. Photo: 16 December 2018 Symbol copyright AFP/Getty Photographs Image caption A Standard Mayan ceremony was held to release the four-12 months venture

    Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has introduced the Maya Educate – an formidable project to build a railway thru 5 south-jap states.

    At an indigenous ceremony near the traditional Mayan ruins of Palenque, he stated this may help create loads of thousands of jobs.

    The 1,525km (950-mile) railway will link Palenque and the tourist hotel of Cancún on the Caribbean coast.

    But fighters warn it might damage the region’s necessary biosphere.

    A third of the deliberate direction passes via pristine jungle, and the owners of the land, the Maya other people, say they have got now not been consulted.

  • Brazil ‘faith healer’ John of God surrenders to police

    Brazilian Image copyright AFP/Getty Photographs Symbol caption Brazilian “non secular healer” Joao Teixeira de Faria, pictured with supporters, has became himself in to police

    A Brazilian religion healer accused of sexually abusing more than THREE HUNDRED girls has handed himself in to police, native media report.

    Joao Teixeira de Faria, known as “John of God”, was once declared a fugitive on Saturday after lacking a closing date to surrender to the authorities.

    The cascade of claims towards him started earlier in December, when a dozen ladies said the self-styled religious healer had abused them at his clinic.

    Mr Faria denies the allegations.

    The medium is predicated within the central the city of Abadiania, west of the capital Brasilia, but has fans world wide.

    Symbol copyright Reuters Image caption Brazilian TELEVISION channels broadcast the medium’s arrival at a police station, an afternoon after he was officially ruled a fugitive

    O Globo newspaper later said it had spoken to two extra women with similar allegations.

    The 76-yr-old’s representatives mentioned he “vehemently rejects allegations of any mistaken follow throughout his remedies”.

    Mr Faria, who is no longer a medical doctor, has previously been fined and jailed for running and not using a licence.

    US TV host Oprah Winfrey travelled to Brazil in 2013 to meet him, and witnessed him performing so-known as “psychic surgical treatment” at his health facility.

    According to ABC Information, Mr Faria claims that the spirits of greater than 30 doctors and other entities can enter his frame, and that they perform the healings.

  • Japan explosion: 20 stated injured in Sapporo restaurant blast

    Site of explosion in Sapporo Image copyright EPA Symbol caption The reason for the explosion isn’t yet recognized

    an enormous explosion and hearth has hit a restaurant within the northern Japanese city of Sapporo.

    Initial studies on Japanese media recommended a minimum of 20 folks were injured, with many rushed to health center in ambulances.

    The reason behind the explosion in the Toyohira district is not but known.

    Images on social media first of all confirmed flames emerging from the realm with particles all around, and later firefighters tackling collapsed buildings.

    Police have sealed off the world amid fears of extra explosions.

    The emergency products and services were first alerted to the explosion at approximately 20:30 on Sunday (11:30 GMT).

    Eastern broadcaster NHK stated the area affected had both residential and eating institutions and was approximately 3km south-east of town centre.

    The Japan Instances carried an image of firefighters running at a collapsed building and quoted one eyewitness as announcing the explosion gave the impression of thunder.

    Another eyewitness instructed NHK that the blast had broken the windows of the restaurant he was working in, and that there were “many injured other folks”.

    Image copyright EPA Image caption The emergency products and services were first alerted to the explosion at about 20:30 native time on Sunday

  • Migrant caravan in photos: A river of individuals moving north

    A father carries his child on his shoulders as he walks on a road towards the Mexican city of Tapachula Symbol copyright Encarni Pindado

    Thousands of migrants from Imperative The United States are crossing Mexico from south to north in the wish of reaching the America.

    Many of them are oldsters with small children in quest of a better lifestyles clear of the violence and lack of opportunities of their house nations.

    The size of the crowd has steadily grown from about 1,000 to greater than 7,000, according to a United Countries estimate.

    Observers have described it as “a river of individuals”. Photojournalist Encarni Pindado documented their development north across the Guatemala-Mexico border.

    More than 7,000 people have joined the caravan which has so far walked from San Pedro Sula in Honduras to Huixtla in Mexico Symbol copyright Encarni Pindado

    The Crowd left the crime-ridden city of San Pedro Sula in Honduras on 13 October. From there, the migrants walked to Nueva Ocotepeque from where they crossed into Guatemala.

    Their goal is to achieve the U.s.a. where they say they want to start a brand new life clear of the legal gangs which keep watch over portions of Honduras.

    But US President Donald Trump, who campaigned on a promise to curb unlawful immigration to the united states, said he wouldn’t permit the caravan move into the united states.

    He seized at the caravan as a possibility to rally folks to vote for his Republican Birthday Celebration in the forthcoming midterm elections on 6 November.

    “On Every Occasion you spot a Caravan, or other people illegally coming, or trying to come, into our U . S . A . illegally, recall to mind and blame the Democrats for not giving us the votes to change our pathetic Immigration rules!” he wrote.

    In some other tweet, Mr Trump claimed that “criminals and unknown Center Easterners are jumbled together” the migrant group – without giving any evidence of both.

    one in every of the migrants held up a sign studying: “Emigrating is not a criminal offense, let’s be unfastened without borderlines”.

    A migrant holds up a sign reading Symbol copyright Encarni Pindado

    They walked throughout Guatemala and arrived at the Mexican border ultimate week. Lots of them headed for the bridge dividing the two countries.

    Thousands of Honduran migrants cross the border bridge between Guatemala and Mexico, while hundreds of federal police and soldiers wait on the other side. Symbol copyright Encarni Pindado

    So Much of them are from Honduras and some had tied Honduran flags to their backpacks as they got able to go into Mexico.

    Loads of Mexican federal law enforcement officials and soldiers have been waiting for them on the different facet.

    The Mexican government had up to now said that they’d stop individuals who didn’t have passports or the right kind visas.

    Border officials started through checking the migrants’ documents one at a time, which meant that by way of the end of the day most effective 300 other folks have been allowed to go into and 5,000 more have been still waiting at the bridge.

    A migrant enters Mexico at the border with Guatemala. Symbol copyright Encarni Pindado

    Some Of the migrants fainted on the crowded border bridge due to the heat and exhaustion after having walked for 6 days in a row.

    A woman faints after walking for several days from Honduras on the crowded border bridge separating Guatemala and Mexico Image copyright Encarni Pindado

    With the ones on the Guatemalan facet of the bridge growing an increasing number of frustrated at the wait, tempers flared and the two sides clashed, with a few migrants throwing stones and police firing tear fuel.

    Several people were injured and a bunch of children had been separated from their oldsters in the resulting melee.

    This father managed to carry directly to his son and carried him in his hands after each had breathed in tear gas.

    A man carries a child in his arms after the Mexican police fired tear gas>” src=”https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/11BBD/production/_103973627_3.jpg” width=”1000″ height=”668″/> Symbol copyright Encarni Pindado </p>
<p>After 36 hours on the border, handiest SIX HUNDRED people had made it into Mexico by means of the reliable checkpoint. </p>
<p>tired of ready and an increasing number of concerned they might get turned back by means of Mexican immigration officials, some migrants lowered themselves from the bridge into the river through ropes at the same time as others jumped. </p>
<p> <img loading= Image copyright Encarni Pindado

    A Few have been picked up by fellow migrants on makeshift rafts even as others swam across the Suchiate river, which marks the border among Guatemala and Mexico.

    After waiting for more than 36 hours at the border bridge, some of the migrants crossed the border on rafts Image copyright Encarni Pindado

    the relaxation of those who made it into Mexico was great. They accrued in the main square of Ciudad Hidalgo, town on the Mexican side of the border, and a few danced as local musicians performed.

    Migrants dance was local musicians play music in the central square of Ciudad de Hidalgo Symbol copyright Encarni Pindado

    Locals have been serving to the migrants. Some have dropped off food and clothes at the squares where they were drowsing and others have given the most prone ones lifts north in their cars to make the adventure just a little easier.

    However, catching lifts in overcrowded lorries and SUV may also be bad. Two Hondurans died falling off the cars they had boarded, one in Guatemala and one in Mexico, officers mentioned

    Private cars transport migrants from the Guatemala-Mexico border to the city of Tapachula 40km away Symbol copyright Encarni Pindado

    The migrants had been slumbering wherever they can as they move further north. Their journey to the us-Mexican border is expected to take them weeks.

    Migrants rest in the main square in Tapachula Image copyright Encarni Pindado

    All pictures by way of Encarni Pindado and topic to copyright.

  • Irish abortion invoice passes in senate

    Woman at clinic Symbol copyright Getty Photographs Image caption The Republic Of Ireland voted to overturn its abortion ban in a referendum in Might

    A invoice to legalise abortion services and products within the Republic Of Ireland has passed all stages of the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament).

    On Thursday night time the document and ultimate ranges of the bill passed within the Seanad (Irish Senate), experiences Irish Broadcaster RTÉ.

    The Law of Termination of Being Pregnant Bill will now receive to the President to be signed into legislation.

    The Republic Of Ireland overturned its abortion ban in a referendum in Would Possibly.

    Eighth amendment is repealed Ireland overturns abortion ban

    The Seanad spent 9 hours debating the bill on Thursday.

    Skip Twitter publish by means of @SimonHarrisTD

    Just over 2 HUNDRED days in the past, you, the people Of Ireland voted to repeal the eighth so we could deal with women with compassion. These Days we have now passed the regulation to make this a fact. A vote to finish lonely journeys, end the stigma and beef up women ’s alternatives in our own country

    — Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) December 13, 2018

    Report

    End of Twitter submit by @SimonHarrisTD

    Irish Well Being Minister Simon Harris tweeted his make stronger for the latest developments.

    The Law of Termination of Being Pregnant Bill allows abortion services to be equipped “on demand” as much as the 12th week of a pregnancy, in the case of a deadly foetal abnormality or where the physical or mental well being of the mother is in danger.

    Since the bill’s advent to start with stage in October, there were a few minor changes, including a call to study the legislation after three years, rather than 5 years as was once at the start planned.

    Two different medical doctors will likely be allowed to evaluate a girl in early pregnancy and the offences segment has been moved from front of the bill.

  • Apple to create $1bn Texas base

    Tim Cook Symbol copyright Getty Pictures Symbol caption President Trump had referred to as on Apple chief Tim Cook to create extra US jobs

    Apple has introduced plans to build a brand new campus in Austin, Texas, saying the venture will contain a $1bn (£790m) investment.

    The corporate already has an existing base in the city.

    The iPhone-maker mentioned it anticipated the most recent move may eventually make it the state capital’s greatest personal employer.

    One professional mentioned the world had a large pool of skill to attract on however was once not less expensive to hire in than Silicon Valley.

    Intel’s Atom pc processors were developed at its facility in the city. Dell, Amazon, Samsung, Fb, Google and IBM are among other massive local employers.

    Image copyright Apple Image caption Apple carried out a tremendous expansion of its present Austin campus in 2012

    It mentioned the new 133-acre (0.54 sq km) campus would initially be home to 5,000 new employees however had the capability to house 15,000.

    The new posts, it mentioned, would include roles in its engineering, analysis and building, and gross sales divisions.

    The company additionally mentioned it planned new websites in Seattle, San Diego and Culver Town over the following three years.

    The announcements follow an earlier dedication made in January to create 20,000 new jobs in the US by means of 2023.

    At present, the company employs about NINETY,000 people within the u . s . a ., together with team of workers in its retail stores.

    Symbol copyright APple Symbol caption Apple launched this employment map showing where it expects to have staff in 2022

    Apple and different American generation corporations have confronted calls from President Trump to spice up employment of their house united states.

    Most just lately, the president threatened to add price lists to iPhones and other Apple merchandise synthetic in China if industry negotiations with Beijing did not move the way he wanted.

    Last month, Amazon introduced plans to build new campuses in New York and near Washington DC as a part of its own activity-creation plans.

  • Brazil taking pictures: Campinas cathedral gunman ‘mentally ill’

    A woman walks in front of the Metropolitan Cathedral after a shooting, in Campinas, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, 11 December 2018 Symbol copyright EPA Image caption The shooting happened in the Metropolitan Cathedral in Campinas

    Police investigating a perilous capturing in a cathedral within the Brazilian town of Campinas have identified the gunman.

    Euler Fernando Grandolpho opened hearth within the Metropolitan Cathedral after midday Mass on Tuesday.

    Four folks were killed and 4 extra injured earlier than the 49-year-old grew to become the gun on himself after being shot by police.

    Officers stated the systems analyst had no felony report and “no cause with the exception of his personal insanity”.

    While gun crime is common in Brazil, shootings of this nature and especially in a spot of worship don’t seem to be.

    Symbol copyright EPA Image caption The shooter sat in one of the pews earlier than establishing fire

    Midday Mass was once underneath way whilst the person, who was once later discovered to be armed with guns, walked in and sat down in a pew.

    Eyewitnesses stated that when the Mass finished, he rotated and shot the worshippers who had sat down behind him, one of whom died.

    Pedro Rodrigues used to be inside the cathedral while it took place: “I saw a person rise up and position himself in front of a pair and he fired at aspect blank vary at that couple. Then, my response was once to run out and numerous other folks left running with me. the person persevered capturing, there were so much of shots.”

    Police rushed in from the square outdoor but the gunman controlled to fire approximately 20 shots ahead of he was once himself hit by means of a bullet within the facet. He then shot himself within the head in front of the altar.

    The Campinas police chief mentioned they’d found no links among the gunman and his sufferers.

    Army police had at first stated that 5 people had been killed however later corrected the figure to four.

    They had been named as 39-year-vintage Sidnei Vitor Monteiro, 68-12 months-old José Eudes Gonzaga Ferreira, Cristofer Gonçalves dos Santos, 38, and Elpídio Alves Coutinho, 67.

  • Stormy Daniels sues Trump over ‘defamatory’ tweet

    Stormy Daniels, seen here with her lawyer Michael Avenatti, outside a federal court in Manhattan talking to reporters Symbol copyright AFP Image caption Stormy Daniels, noticed right here with her legal professional Michael Avenatti, says she had an affair with the president

    Adult film celebrity Stormy Daniels is suing US President Donald Trump over a “defamatory” tweet about alleged threats in opposition to her, her attorney says.

    Ms Daniels, actual title Stephanie Clifford, says she used to be threatened by a man in a Las Vegas automotive park to drop her allegations of an affair with Mr Trump.

    Mr Trump retweeted a sketch of the man, calling it “a total con task”.

    But Ms Daniel’s lawyer tweeted that Mr Trump was once “neatly aware of what transpired”.

    Symbol copyright AFP Image caption Mr Trump denies any wisdom of Mr Cohen, pictured right here getting into courtroom, paying Ms Daniels

    This Example was, alternatively, halted for NINETY days, whilst the presiding judge said Mr Cohen’s rights might be put in danger if the case endured even as he was once below legal investigation.

    Mr Cohen is underneath scrutiny as part of Different Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election and alleged collusion with President Trump’s campaign.

    Who Is Michael Cohen? Why the raid on Trump’s attorney is a big deal

    (more…)

  • Brazil capturing: Five useless as gunman opens hearth in cathedral

    Map

    A gunman entered a Catholic cathedral near Brazil’s most populous town, São Paulo, killing 5 people, police say.

    A Mass was once being held while the attacker, carrying weapons, entered the Metropolitan Cathedral within the city of Campinas and opened fire.

    The army police confirmed to the BBC that the loss of life toll had risen from four to 5. Four aged other people had been additionally significantly wounded.

    The attacker killed himself in the church. His purpose isn’t yet recognized.

    “It was frightful,” witness Alexandre Moraes informed Brazil’s GloboNews channel. “He entered and shot randomly at other people. They have been all praying.”

    Campinas is an business city a few 100km (SIXTY TWO miles) north-west of Sao Paulo.

  • Huawei arrest puts ‘bullseye’ on Apple

    Apple draws 20% of its global revenue from China Symbol copyright Getty Pictures Image caption Apple attracts 20% of its international earnings from China

    You Do Not wish to glance arduous to look how the global Instances – the state-backed Chinese newspaper – is interpreting the arrest of Huawei chief monetary officer, Meng Wanzhou.

    “Washington’s move to stifle Huawei will undermine itself,” reads a headline. “Banning Chinese Language companies like Huawei will isolate US from virtual economy of the long run,” reads another.

    It’s that second headline, the risk of isolation, that are meant to supply US technology firms considerable pause as we head into Ms Meng ’s twelfth day of detention in a Canadian jail.

    The lifetime of Huawei’s high flying heiress

    The fallout from her arrest would definitely mean, at the very least, a fair harder dating for the handful people tech giants that experience found nice fortune in China.

    specifically, Apple, the poster kid for US tech luck, and a company that trusted China for 20% of its sales this earlier year.

    On Tuesday, a Chinese court docket banned the sale of older iPhone models as part of an extended-working patent infringement lawsuit among Apple and Qualcomm. So Much legal observers had anticipated China to reject Qualcomm ’s request for an injunction.

    there may be no direct link among this action and the Huawei row. But taken in opposition to the backdrop of Ms Meng ’s arrest, and ongoing tariff disputes, it ’s being seen as a muscle-flexing display on the a part of the Chinese Language.

    But the actual success story for Huawei gained ’t come from smartphones, however the equipment that makes them price having. Huawei is positioning itself as the supplier of selection for rolling out 5G generation, the following technology of cell community.

    what’s 5G and what will it mean for you? Should we fear about Huawei? Why Huawei issues – in 5 charts

    Placed merely, if China thinks the united states is unfairly hobbling the opportunity for Huawei to be an immense player in 5G, it will retaliate and Apple could really feel the brunt.

    “The very last thing tech buyers wanted to look was this news about the CFO of Huawei,” Mr Ives stated.

    “It fuels the flames of further retaliation.”

    a mild protest

    Mr Ives said Apple should feel like it has a “bullseye” on its back.

    Wedbush estimates 350m iPhones in use across the international are approaching the point whilst the general public would want an upgrade, with around 70m of them in China.

    “You ’re talking a few quarter of the incremental expansion over the following three to four years is going to return from China.”

    Image copyright Getty Photographs Symbol caption Protesters gathered out of doors the Vancouver courtroom the place arrested government Meng Wanzhou was once seeking bail

    Even with out official intervention, the exposure hit Apple may undergo might make a dent in their Chinese Language revenues. Out Of Doors court in Vancouver, contributors of the city ’s Chinese neighborhood have made their emotions transparent, maintaining “Loose Meng” signs and telling reporters they feel the u.s. is bullying Huawei and, by means of extension, China.

    And in step with inside memos obtained via Yahoo Information, a number of Chinese Language corporations have taken steps to advertise their staff use Huawei products rather than Apple.

    “the scoop of Huawei CFO Ms Meng Wanzhou ’s arrest by means of Canadian authorities has shocked the Chinese Language other folks,” a memo to workforce at Jiangxi Ruike Refrigeration Generation is reported to have stated, encouraging employees to trade in their iPhones for a Huawei software (in return for a wholesome subsidy).

    Mutually beneficial

    But there’s one side of Apple ’s good fortune in China that might imply it’s spared Beijing ’s wrath – even though Ms Meng finds herself extradited and even jailed.

    Apple in fact doesn ’t simply sell merchandise to China, it makes them there. In 2017, Apple expected that among manufacture, retail, distribution – not to point out the ones growing for its instrument – it was once responsible for 4.8m jobs in China.

    Further, the company has opened analysis centres that are providing a house in China for the rustic ’s brightest graduates.

    “they have got relationships with the Chinese executive because they ’ve been an enormous agency,” Mr Ives mentioned, suggesting Beijing may well be limited in what motion it would take as result.

    “By Way Of hurting Apple, it could to some volume be the same as burning down your own house.”

    Apple didn’t reply to requests for remark.

    ________

    Apply Dave Lee on Twitter @DaveLeeBBC

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